Crib trip lock



' 'Spt 28 1926;

1,601,163 n R. J. VELLSWORTH' CRIB TRIP LOCK Filed Sept. 3, 1920 ATTORNEYS.

Patentedl Sept. 28, 19,26.

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JOHN ELLSWORTI-I, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SIMMONS COM-PANY, OF KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELA'WARE.

CRIB TRIP LOCK.

My invention relates to improvements in crib trip-locks, and, hasparticular reference to a type of foot-controlled latch or lock for thesliding side of an ordinary crib.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical,readily accessible, efficient, crib-lock of the class described, and onewhich may be manipulated simply and quickly whenever occasion requires.

In the drawings, which illustrate my in? vention as applied to a slidingcrib side on a crib of approved construction-` F ig. 1 is a fragmentaryview in side elevation of a portion of the crib and locking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in unlocked position.

Referring to the drawings, it will be underst'ood that the crib is oftubular construction as to the corner posts 10, the frame of the cribwhich supports the spring or mattress being composed of angle ironmembers including side rails 11. Said supporting frame may, is desired,have its ends supported by and secured to cross-tubes 12.

The sliding crib side is constructed with vertical frame tubes 13 andhorizontal frame tubes 14, the vertical frame tubes 13 being suitablyorganized to slide upon the stationary vertical guide-rods 15 at eachend of the crib. Preferably, the guide-rods 15 `are substantial enoughto prevent the bottom of the sliding side from swinging appreciablyoutside of the vertical plane in which the sliding gate or side normallytravels.

lThe lower ends of the side tubes 13 and the bottom tube 14 of thesliding crib side are joined by means of ferrules 16 and 17 suitablyunited together. From the ferrule 17 projects an axially horizontallocking pin 18 with which the latch mechanism cooperates.

The latch proper comprises a substantially V-shaped hook 19, the upperend of which is pivoted upon the forwardly and downwardly projecting arm20 of a small bracket 21 rigidly secured to the end of the angle iron 11by any suitable means, such as rivets 22. Said latch or hook 19 isformed with a notch 23 which, in the position shown.in Fig. 2, serves tosupport and lock the cooperating pin 18, and thereby maintain thesliding gate in elevated position.

The unlatching of the crib side is eifected by means of a foot-actuatedarm or pedal 211, said member comprising a strap-like linger dependingfrom and rigidly secured to the center of a horizontal trip-rod 25. Saidtrip-rod 25 is rotatably supported as to its central portion, ina smallbracket comprising a strap 26 secured to the side of the angle iron 11and having its ends turned up, as shown at 27, and perforated toaccommodate the trip-rod 25.

The outer ends of the trip-rod 25 are bent at right-angles, as shown at28, the lower ends of said depending parts 28 being reversely bent toform horizontal, inwardlyextending tripping pins 29. Each of thetripping pins 29 is arranged to operate in a cam slot 30 formed in thelower end of the V-shaped latch member 19.

The length of the slot 30 is obviously controlled by the spacing betweenthe latch pivot 31 and the aperture in the arm 20, which accommodatesthe outer end of the trip-rod 25.

The operation of the device is simplicity itself. When the crib side israised, the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, with the latchpin 18 securely locked in the notch 23 of the latch, thereby preventingthe crib side from falling. vWhenever it is desired to lower the cribside in order to gain better access to the interior of the crib, themother presses the lower end of the trigger 24 inwardly with her foot,thereby moving the latch 19 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Thisresults in the release of the lockpins 18 at each end of the crib, andthe crib side is thereby permitted to descend.

The parts, by reason of the superior gravity of the trigger 24, tendnormally to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and when in such.position the latch 19 presents an inclined cam surface 32 lying in thepath of the pin 18 when the crib side is elevated. Hence, when the cribside is raised for the purpose of locking it in elevated position, theplin 18 engages the edge 32 of the latch 19 and moves the latter backinto such position that the pin 18 will pass over the barb 33 of thehook, which will then swing forward into the position shown in Fig. 2,thus automatically locking the crib side in elevated position withoutfurther attention from the operator.

The details of construction and operation herein described are merelyillustrative of a single application of my invention, the scope of whichshould be determined by reference to the appended claims.

I claiml. In a crib the combination of a. main frame, a verticallyadjustable gate at the side of the main frame, a pair ot spaced hangershaving' the upper extremities pivoted on the main frame and havingnotches adapted to engage the gate Ator holding the lat-te in theelevated position and a rod extending; betr-reen thev hangers andindependently pivoted` on the main frame and provided with cranks at theends connected to said hangers and operable to engage or disengage saidhangers and said gate and foot controlled means on the rod foroscillating the latter to so operate said hangers.

2. In a crib the combination of a main trame having a verticallyadjustable gate at the side thereof, a pair of spaced latches pivoted onthe main frame and having notches adapted to engage with the gate tohold the latter in the elevated position, a rod extending between thelatches and piroted on the main frame at a distance from the pivotalaxis of the latches and having crank portions at the ends engaging"slots in the latches 'roioperating the latter, and au operating memberon the rod for oscillating' the crank portions of the latter to more thelatches out of engagenient with the `gate.

ROSS JGH ELLSVORTH.

